One was a large merchantman, with a full cargo, and the other was a bark, northward bound, in ballast.

The acquisition of the latter vessel put a new idea into Captain Bonnet's head.

The Revenge was already overloaded, and he determined to take the bark as a tender to relieve him of a portion of his cargo and to make herself useful in the business of marooning and such troublesome duties.
Being now commander of two vessels, which might in time increase to a little fleet, Captain Bonnet's ideas of his own importance as a terror of the sea increased rapidly.

On the Revenge he was more despotic and severe than ever before, while the villain who had been chosen to command the tender, because he had a fair knowledge of navigation, was informed that if he kept the bark more than a mile from the flag-ship, he would be sunk with the vessel and all on board.

The loss of the bark and some men would be nothing compared to the maintenance of discipline, quoth the planter pirate.
Bonnet's ambition rose still higher and higher.